Interesting Facts about Chinese Tea Gardens

Since the discovery of tea in China several years ago, it has become deeply indented into the culture and society of the country. Tea drinking is not seen as a casual everyday act like in several other countries. In fact, the Chinese have developed several ceremonies and social practices revolving around the brewing and consumption of tea.
Additionally, it is not just the consumption of tea that is given attention to, but also the method of brewing, the utensils used, the technique followed and also the place where the brewing and drinking of tea takes place. Tea Gardens are one such location where a large number of tea ceremonies and social gatherings revolving around tea take place.

Pleasure Gardens for Tea Ceremonies

Tea gardens hold great cultural significance for the Chinese society. The essence of a pleasure garden is not neatly planted bushes and shrubs but random scenic arrangement of ornamental elements that give it a unique look of beautiful uncultivated nature. Every pleasure garden is different from the other and may have one or many of elements such geometric gazebos, stone bridges, pathways and endless arrangement of trees and flowering plants in their natural, rugged form.

The natural and artificial artistic elements of a tea garden are so expertly blended that it is impossible to pull them apart. The basics of all Chinese tea gardens are serenity, purity, and endless visual treats. They are designed to calm the mind and have rejuvenating and restorative effects on the body. These gardens have wooden shades and enclosed spaces where tea ceremonies can be conducted in the midst of breathtaking natural beauty. Being surrounded by nature enhances the solemnity of the tea drinking ceremonies and the peacefully atmosphere can make the participants feel truly one with nature.

However, tea gardens require large tracts of open land in locations not far from where most of the public dwells. Due to the growing lack of such spaces, the Chinese tea garden has now been reduced to smaller spaces managed and maintained by tea houses. These might be smaller in size but the rugged elements of natural beauty and often preserved in them.

Tea Rooms or Tea Houses with Gardens

As the name suggests, a tea house or room is an establishment that serves tea. However, despite its name, it is not just tea that is served in places like this but beverages are also accompanied with savory snacks and sometimes complete meals. Nevertheless, it is the offering of tea brews that draws people to these establishments.

Most of the tea houses have tea gardens attached to them. These are used for tea ceremonies and other social gathering related to tea drinking. Although most of them are artificially decorated, the natural look and feel along with the peaceful quality is retained just like the large Chinese tea gardens.

There are several provinces in China that serve as tea-centered tourist locations. The Sichuan province in southwestern China is one such place. This province is a favorite of tea lovers and tourist looking to learn more about the cultural significance of tea China.